Tuesday, April 28, 2015

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 28- On Monday night, history repeated itself in a number of aspects as the Yankees defeated Tampa, 4-1, to gain their ninth victory in the last 11 games.

On April 17, Adam Warren and Nathan Karns were the starting pitchers. Karns hurled five innings and warren pitched four. Neither was involved in the decision.

On Monday, 10 days later, both pitchers were again given the starting assignments. Karns pitched 4.2 frames and Warren threw 5.2, but again neither was involved in the decision. Although both retained their identical 1-1 records, Warren was quite pleased by his improvement, “I feel like tonight was the first in which all four pitches were working.”

As on April 17, the Yankees won the game, with the win going to a reliever, Jason Wilson.

The Yankee offense also followed its previous patterns. When the Yanks are the first to score, their record is 9-1, but when their opponent reaches the scoreboard first their mark is 3-7. On Monday, the Yanks scored in the bottom of the fifth on a bases loaded walk to Brett Gardner. The Rays did not score until the next inning titie the score at 1.

Brian McCann’s one out solo home run in the sixth was the 16th homer of the Yankees in the team’s 20thcontest. The Yanks 27th four bagger of the season tied the O’s for the American League lead. Two extra base hits in the same frame, doubles by Carlos Beltran and Stephen drew accounted for their third run.

The relief corps of the Yankees continued its excellent performances. Four relievers held the Rays scoreless for 3.1 innings, lowering the relief ERA to 1.70. They lead the majors with 78 strikeouts. DellinBetances, who pitched the eighth, has not surrendered an earned run in 11.1 innings this season, praised his mates in the bullpen, “We have a great group of guys out there. We all believe in each other. Wetry to match each other.”

Andrew Miller, the closer, notched his eighth save in eight opportunities to keep the American League lead. His eighth save in the club’s first 20 games is a new Yankee mark which broke the previous mark of seven held by Mariano Rivera. Miller gave credit to his teammates for the win, “It’s a team effort.”

Chase Whitley will start the second game of the three game series on Tuesday night, his first major league appearance of 2015.